Details of Chinese plan to recreate Stratford revealed

Ambitious plans to create a pedestrianised Stratford featuring Shakespeare’s church, schoolroom, home and birthplace have been unveiled by developers in China.

Late last month a delegation of civic officials returned from a visit to Fuzhou in China, during which they received a full presentation on the proposal.

Located 14km away from Fuzhou in a mountainous region, the Stratford recreation would form part of a new cultural tourist attraction called Sanweng Town.

Those behind the theme town want the attraction to celebrate the achievements of Tang Xianzu, Shakespeare and Cervantes, who all passed away in the same year 1616.

To achieve this, Sanweng Town would be divided into three areas each depicting the hometowns of the three men, who are referred to as the ‘Three Giants’ in China.

Amazingly the developers behind the project anticipate that construction of Sanweng Town will be complete within three years.

The initial plans paint an exciting picture of what will await visitors eager to get a taste of the place Shakespeare called home.

Four key buildings, Holy Trinity Church, The Guildhall, The Shakespeare Birthplace and New Place would be recreated along with selected elements of Stratford’s street scene.

Presentation material about the Stratford recreation features detailed internal photographs of some of the town’s historic buildings, suggesting that effort is being put into making such landmarks as authentic as possible, inside and out.

A river, to simulate the Avon, would be channeled through the settlement but unlike Stratford, Sanweng Town would be completely pedestrianised, connected close by to the region’s motorway network.

During the presentation the Stratford delegation were told that the project would regenerate an existing heritage site with ancient buildings, which have fallen into disrepair.

Members of the Stratford delegation were invited to give their views on the proposal and suggestions such as the inclusion of statues of the three giants and specific Stratford buildings were well received.

Sitting between the recreation of Stratford and Cervantes home town of Alcala, two spectacular theatres would be built, one of which would sit in the middle of a lake.

The two venues could be used for performances of some of the Three Giants’ great works.

A reception hall with a series of courtyards would complete this cultural area of the town and elsewhere a museum to playwright Tang Xianzu, who lived in the area, would be constructed.

Further away from the centre a retail and restaurant area would be constructed, while spas utilising natural hot springs and luxury hotels would surround the town.

San Weng Town has been designed by one of China’s leading urban architects Lin Young.

Stratford mayor Cllr Juliet Short said: “The links that could be formed with China if this goes ahead would be amazing.

“The architect behind this has visited Stratford and has spent a lot of time designing all the buildings, he is one of the best urban designers in China and I believe he sees this as his showcase creation.”

If the plan to recreate the town goes ahead Stratford will join other famous places such as Venice, Paris and New York in being immortalised in China.